Metal-forming machine.



J; LEWIS, .METAL FORMING MACHINE.

APPPLIGATHIHiT I II'|BD JUNE 10, 190?. Patented May 23 5 sums-SEEM 1'.

WITNESSES;

A. J. LEWIS. METAL FORMING MACHINE. APPLIGATIOK FILED JUNE 10, 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911;

Ennis-51mm- 2f I Hr mmm I lam:

I WITNESSES.-

% M zf r3 A; J. LEWIS. METAL FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19,1909.

' Patented May 23, 1911.

5 amine-511E111 3.

IN ENTOR.

WITNESSES;

WW 1 @MW Patented May 23, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES:

A. J. LEWIS. .METAL FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911.

5 SHEETSB HEE'I 6.

w z .5. P. L 3 3 3 INVENTOR.

WITNESSES: 7 MM! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I .ARTHUR J. LEWIS, OF \VATERTOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BAIRDMACHINE COMPANY, OF OAKVILLE,

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

METAL-FORMING MACHINE.

Patented May 23, 1911. Serial No. 501,295.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Watertown, in the county of Litchfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had there in to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in metal formingmachines, and refers more particularly to that type of machine whereinthe metal is automatically fed between a plurality of forming tools,then cut oil into a predetermincd length and bent into the desiredgformby the action of the said forming tools thereon.

It is the object of my invention, among other things, to provide a feedfor such a machine thatwill operate with greater speed and less powerthan such mechanisms now in common use; have but few adjustable partsthat are simple in structure and operation and arranged so as to beconvenient of access; non-friction gripping members that are operatedindependently of the feed slide; and adjustable pin ]ll(.( 'lltl nism toprevent overthrow hers; means for instantly and positively stopping thefeeding of the metal; a graduated adjustment of the feed that willinsure the accurate feeding of metal of predetermined lengths; 111611118for rigidlv holding the metal during the return of the" feed slide; toso design and arrange the cutoff mechanism that it may be quickly andaccurately adjusted without the use of the tamping means con'nnon at thepresent time;'to provide a, metal clamping or binding device that may beoperated from fixed cam means; and to apply a swinging form holder somounted as to be interchangeable with a fixed form holder; and toac(.:o'1nplish these and other desirable objects'with mechanism that issimple in design, may be constructed and assembled econmnically and willoperate at the highest speed andwilh the maximum efiiciency.

To these, and other ends, my invention consists in the metal formingmachine, having certain details of construction and com binations ofparts, as Will be hereinafter dcscribed and more particularly pointedolll in the claims. I I

Referring to the drawings, Ill winch llh'o new and im pro vcd of thefeed men'r numerals of reference designate like parts in the severalfigures; Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved metal forming machine;Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview upon line AB of Fig. 1, showing an end view of the feed mechanism;Fig. 4 is a sectionalview upon line C-D of Fig. 1 showing a sideelevation of the cut-off mechanism; Fig.

5 is a fragmentary elevati n of the feed slide; Fig. 6 is an end view ofthe feed rock lever; Fig. 7 is a fragmentar sectional ')ltlll viewthereof; Fig. 8 is a side elevation o the swinging former and the partsadjacent thereto; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the feed slide andbracket; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the inner ends of theformer slides and the formers connected therewith;

Fig. 11 a sectional view upon line E F of Fig. 1 showing a sideclcvationof the clamping or hinder n'lcchanism; and Fig. 12

is a shape which is the product of my machine, being one of the manyforms that can.

be produced thereon.

in the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the bed of the machine. whichis supported upon suitable legs 2 and having jounudcd upon one end themain driving shaft 3 upon which the bevel gears -l and 5 are lived.which rcspccti\'el v mesh into the bevel gears 6 and 7 upon the shal'lsS and l). l pou the shaft 9 is a bevel gear 10 which meshes into anddrives a gear 11 upon the shall [2 journnled in one end of the machine.

The feed mechanism colllpllws :1 di h 21!) lived on the shaft 12 andhaving a MltW l lbcrcin that is rotated through the lhumb nut ll andlhrcadcd inlo llnllllflllll block 4;: :i link l-l (mm-cling lhc block-l.;' with a rock lcvcr ll lhal is iolu'nalcd lo lb lived brachcl l5 bythe pin lli; a slide IT lbal, is connected with the rock lcvcr -l l b vlhilink it and movablc upon the brackci ll lixcd lo the bed 1. saidbrachcl l1.-i\'ingllulopplates 5t) atbolh ends thereof; a grip lever 51that is 'l nlcrmncd on the slide l? by the pin 5:2; :1 movablc gripplalc 5-; that is held against lalcral displacement b v the cap 5H. andis actuated from the grip lcv r Til through the, sct screw ill (butimpinges against lbc upper cdgc lbcl'col'. 'lbls sol screw providesmeans for adjusting llugripping mechanism for mclal olvarious dinmnsionaand regulating lhepressunlhcrcou'and is retained in its adjuslcdposilions by the loch lllll 55. Be-

low the plate is a fixed plate 56 that is held in place by the dowel pin57 and cap 58. Ad ustably secured to the slide 47 by the caps 59 are thestop pins (30 which strike the stop plates 50 at the end of each strokeof the feed slide to prevent overthrow thereof, which mightoccur as theresult of wear and consequent looseness in the various joints betweenthe slide and the disk 39, thereby assuring the' feeding of successivepieces of metal of uniform lengths.

Journaled at both ends in the blocks 61 fixed to the slide 47 is theoscillating plate (32 which contacts with one end of the grip lever 51to impart a rocking movement thereto. This oscillating'plate G2 isactuated bythe pins 63 and 64 projecting laterally from the rock lever65 that is mounted upon the stud 66 fixed in the bed and actuated fromthe cam (37 on the shaft 8 through the lever 68 that is connected at oneend to the rock lever 65 and having a cam roll 69 thereon, which lieswithin the groove 70 in the cam 67.

The metal from the ro1ls.71 upon the straightener bracket 72passesbctween the plates 53 and 56 and as the disk 39 rotates a rockingmovement is imparted to the rock arm 44 and a reciprocating movement tothe slide 17 through the link 48, the length of the movement of theslide being determined by the radial osition of the block 42, and ateach limit of the stroke of the slide one of the stop pins 60 abutsagainst one of the stop plates/'50. During thismovement of the feedslide the oscillating plate 62 moves in front of the pins 63 and 64fixed to the rock lever 65, and at its extreme retracted.

position the stop pin- '64: engages the oscil lating plate 62 and movesthe same so that the grip lever 51 is actuated and the metal grippedbetween the plates 53 and 56. This grip upon the metal continues duringthe on tire forward movement of the slide, when the rock lever 65 isactuated so. as to move the pin 63 against. the oscillating plate 62 andrelease the grip upon the metal through the movement of the lever 51,when the slide is returned and the above operations repeated. The pin64, is constructed with a flat head 98 that normally-lies against. oneface of the rock level-135 and is pulled into a pocket 99 in said rocklever 65 by the spring 100 when the same is given a quarter turn aboutits axis. This construction and mounting of the pin 6ft enables theoperator to instantly stop the feeding movement by simply grasping theknurled head 101. of the pin 64, give it a quarter turn and the head 98moves out of the path of the oscillating plate 62. I

The cut-elf mechanism comprises a standard 73 having a lip 74 upon itsunderside that enters the slot 75 in the bed I; a cutter slide 76 havinga cutter 77 fixed lhcrctr; a

bushing 79 secured by the 'set screw 80; and a cam 78 fixed on the shaft8. A lateral movement is imparted to the standard 73 upon the bedthrough the stud 81 having a pinion. 82 on its lower end which engageswith the teeth in the fixed rack 83 and secured in any of its adjustedpositions by the bolt 84 which is threaded into the nut 85 held againstrotation in the said slot 75.-

The head of the stud 81 and the bolt 84: are the same shape and size sothat one wrench may be used interchangeably. Lateral adjustment of thecut-off standard is obtained by first turning the bolt 8 then shiftingthe wrench to the stud 81, and by rotating this stud the bracket ismoved along the bed by reason of the engagement of the pinion 82 withthe rack 83, and when moved into the desired position is then securedagainst movement by rotating the bolt 84: in the reverse direction. Theslide 76 is kept in contact witlrthe cam 78 through the spring 87 whichlies within a pocket in the bracket 73 and exerts its tension against anarm 88 fixed in the slide 76. During the return 'movemcnt of the slidethe metal is held by a binding machanism, comprising a standard 91having a rock lever mounted, therein and carrying a roll 92 at onc endwhich contacts with the cam 79 and having a screw 89 threaded in theother end which engages a block 102 movably mounted in the saidstandard; a spring 104 surrounding the block 102; and a fixed block 103.

Heretofore it has been the practice to opcrate the feed mcchanism of amachine of this character from a rain or disk'with a fixed or adjustableblock and slotted lever mechanism and prevent the overthrowthereofthrough friction devices. This practice has been found faulty inmany particulars, more especially from the fact that the frictiondevices of such mechanism necessitate constant attention to keep themadjusted, the friction heats the/parts, and 'this and more complicatedmechanism than in my device, require an excessive amount of power to opcrate them, and the speedof movement of the feed is also therebynecessarily limited. In my device, as herein shown and described, thefeed mechanism is simple in construction and operation, does not dependupon friction devices, but has adjustable stop pins to preventoverthrow, and can be open atcd at greater speed with less power. Alsothe time for grippi-n and releasing the metal in my device being in thesame relation for any length of feed, which is not the case in machinesusing a disk and slotted lover mechanism, allows me to use a fixedclamping or binding cam as hereafter described.

'lhe cut-oil standard will accommodate the full capacity of the feed ofthemachine and its adjustment is obtained by mechanical means ratherthan by poundin or tamping, as is the present ractice. H eretofore theclampin or binding mechanism has been operate ,from at least two camsthat are secured together and have a rotary adjust ment in relation toeach other, but this method is expensive and mechanically faulty,because it is difficult to adjust the cams in relation to each otherwith the requisite n-ieety and maintain them permanently in such ad--justed positions. In my device all of these difficulties are overcome,and the binding mechanism is operated from a single cam that has a fixedrelative position at all times to the shaft upon which it is mounted andrequires no ad uSt-ment.

Mounted in the bed of the machine are the former slides 13, 14, 15 and16, which are given a reciprocating movement from the cams 17, 18. 19and 20, fixed on the shafts 9, 3, 8 and 12. (in the inner ends of theseslides are fixed the forming tools 21 by the bolts 22 and are given aslight adjustment thereon by the set. screws 23. The inner ends of theseforming tools are shaped so as to co operate in the bending of the metalinto the proper shape. Suspended between the inner ends of the formers21 is the former 24 which is fixed by the bolt 25 to the holder 26 thatis pivotally connected to the standard 27 by the removable pin 2Q. \Vhenthe holder 26 is in its rearmost position the rear face thereof abutsagainst the face 29 in the standard 27 and is moved forwardly from thisposition by the spring 30 which surrounds lhe rod 31 joined to theformer 3G, and lies between the plate 32 fixed to the front of thestandard 27 and the nut 33, this forward position being shown by brokenlines in Fig. S. The standard 27 is secured to the bed 1 by the bolts 34which pass through slots 35 in the standard and have a limitedadjustment from front to roar lbrough the screws at which are threadedin the base of the standard 27. the ends of which impinge against thebolts ill. The swinging former is removed by taking out the pin 2%. anda stationauv former may be substituted if desired. the said stationaryl'ormcr Iilling the entire space between the back ot' the plate 32 amlthe face 39 in the standard J7. To prevent displacement ot' the pin 2bthe bracket 27 is split at 37 and a screw 3H threaded 'therctbrougb.which, when lightened. grips the end of the pin 2%.

In operation. the metal is fed through the nun-hing. by the meansheretofore tit-Ht'llllttl. between the former 24 and the forming tool llupon the slide 15 and its inner end supported by a stop 93 which isadjustable in any desired or well known manner. The. cams are so timedthat the slide 15 then moves forward and holds the. metal between thefUI'IiIII 2i. thereon and former 24. at. which time the metal is cut offby the tool 77. The slide 15 continues its movement and forces theholder 26 backward against the tension of the s ring 30 to itsstationary position against t a face 29, but the slide 15 continues itsmovement and folds the metal around two sides of the former24. The backposition of the former 24 is shown by broken lines in Fig. 10. At thispoint the slides 14 and 16 begin their inward movement and the formers21 connected therewith fold the ends of said metal around the back ofthe former 24, at which time the slide 13 begins its inward movement andthe former 21 thereon closes upon the bent ends of said metal, thuscompleting the forming operation and producinga metal shape as shown inFig. 1. All of the slides are now withdrawn and the metal shape removedfrom the former 24 by the stripper 94, which is operated through a rocklever 95 mounted upon a fixed bracket 96 and actuated from the cam 86onthe shaft 9. After leaving the former 24 the finished shapes dropthrough a hole 97 in the bed of. the machine into a receptacleconveniently located to receive them. There is no limit to the number offinished shapes that may be produced upon this machine by substituting"'"other former tools and the shape shown in Fig. 11 is only insertedfor purposes of illustration.

There are minor changes and alterations that can be made within myinvention, aside from those herein suggested, and I would therefore haveit understood that I do not limit myself to the exact constructionherein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within thespirit and scope of my invention.-

Having described my invention, what I (ltllll'l as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

I. In a metal forming machine. the combination with a slide; of grippingmeans thereon: a rotary plate: a rock lever actuated from said plate; aconnection between said slide and rock lever; a second rock leverpivotally mounted upon a fixed part; andmeans for operating saidgripping means indepemlentl of said slide from said second rock lever.

"3. In a metal forming machine. the combination with a slide: ofgripping means thereon; a rotary plate: a-rock lever connected with saidslide; a connection between said rock lever and plate; means for adjustably securing said connection to said plate: and means. as a rockarm mounted on a fixed part. and an oscillating plate. for operatingsaid gripping means independently of said slide;

fl. In a metal forming machine. the combination with a slide: ofgripping means thereon, comprising a movable member c0nlacting with themetal. and an oscillating plate -for actuating said movable member;

a rock arm pivotally mounted upon a fixed part and imparting movement tosaid oscillating plate a rotary plate; a connection between said rotaryplate and slide whereby a reciprocating movement is imparted. to saidslide; and means for adjusting the length of the stroke of said slide.

4. In a metal forming machine, the combination with a slide; of griptiing means thereon, comprising a movable member contacting with themetal, and an oscillating plate for operating said movable member; arotary plate; means connected with said rotary plate for imparting areciprocating movement to said slide; means for adjusting the length ofthe stroke of said slide at either or both ends thereof; and means, as arock arm mounted upon a fixed part for operating said oscillating plateduring the instant of rest of said slide.

5. In a metal forming machine, the conibination with a slide; ofgripping means thereon, col'nprising a movably member con tacting withthe metal, and an oscillating plate for operating said movable member;

a rotary plate; means connected with said rotary plate for imparting areciprocating movement to said slide; a rock arm mounted upon a fixedpart; and cam means for operating said rock arm.

6. In a metal forming machine, the combination witlra slide; of grippingmeans thereon, comprising a movable member contacting with the metal,and an oscillating plate for operating said movable member; a rotaryplate; means connected with said rotary plate for imparting areciprocating movement to said slide; means for adjusting the length ofthe stroke of said slide at either or both ends thereof; a rock armmounted upon a fixed part; and cam means for operating said rock arm.

7. In a metal forming machine, the com bination with a slide; a griplever mounted thereon and actuated by an oscillating plate; a rotaryplate inc-ans for imparting a reciprocating moven'ientto said slide fromsaid rotary plate; means for varying the length of stroke of said slide;a rock lever eonnected to a fixed part and during its movement havingcontact with said oscillating plate; and cam means for actuating saidrock lever.

' 8. In a metal forming machine, the combination with a slide; ofgripping means connected therewith, said means comprising an oscillatingplatehaving contact with a grip lever mounted on sai'd slide; means forimparting a reciprocating movement to said slide; and means-foroperating said oscillating plate, comprising a rock lever having partsthereon which contact with said oscillating plate upon opposite sides ofthe center thereof, and means for imparting movement' to said rock ever.

9. In a metal forming machine, the combination with a slide; of a griplever and an oscillating plate mounted thereon; means for imparting areciprocating movement to said slide; a rock lever mounted upon a fixedpart and having contact points upon either side of the center thereofwhich contact with said oscillating plate during the movement of saidrock lever; and means for actuating said rock lever.

10. In a metal forming machine, the combination with a slide; of a griplever thereon; an oscillating plate also mounted thereon and having acontact with said grip lever; means for imparting a reciprocatingmovement to said slide; a rock lever mount ed upon a fixed part andhaving contact points upon either side of the center thereof whichengage said oscillating plate upon opposite sides of its center duringthe movement of said rock lever; and means for actuating said rocklever.

11. In a metal formin machine, the combination with a slide; o a griplever there on; an oscillating plate also mounted thereon and-havingcontact with said grip lever; means for imparting a reciprocatingmovement to said slide; a rock lever mounted upon a fixed part andhaving contact points upon either side of the center thereof whichengage said oscillating plate during the movement of said rock lever;means for ao-.

tuating said rock lever; and means for mounting one of said contactpoints on said rock lever so that the same may be moved out of the pathof said oscillating plate.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with meansfor feeding metal; of means for cutting the same into lengths; and rackand pinion means for adjustably moving said cut-oft mechanism toward andaway from said feed nlCilIlS.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination with meansfor feeding metal; of means for cutting the same into lengths; and meansfor adjusting the position of said cut-01f means toward and away fromsaid feed means, comprising a pinion rotatably connected with saidcutoff meclmnism, and a rack connected with a fixed part.

14. In a metal forming machine, the com-.-

bination' with reciprocating slides movable toward and away from eachother; forming tools connected therewith; a. fixed )art above saidslides; a former holderpivota ly mounted therein; and spring means formoving ,said holder in one direction.

15. The combination with the reciprocating slides; of former toolsseparably con nected therewith; a standard secured to a fixed part; aformer holder having a hinged connection with said standard; a boltpivotally connected with said holder; a spring slide 80 that before thebination with recifrocatin slides movable toward and away I .toolsconnected therewith;

rom eac other; forming a pivotally mounted former having a part thereofbe tween the said slides; means for feeding ,nfecn between one of saidslides and said forrnem and means 'for otperatingvsaiil last ormingoperation said ,Inetal will be held between the former on said lastslideand said pivotally mounted former and while therebetween conveyed toaposition for the formingoperation.

.17. .In. a'metal forming machine, the com bination with reciprocatingslides movable toward and away from each other; forming tools connectedtherewith a swinging former having a part thereof between the saidslides; and means for holding a metal length between said swingingformer and one of said slides during the movement of said swingingformer prior to the forming operation.

18. In a metal forming machine, the combination with reci rocatingslides movable toward and away rom each other; forming tools connectedtherewith; means for. feeding metal between said slides; a swingingformer having a part thereof between the said slides; means for cuttingsaid metal into lengths; and means for conveying said metal lengthsbetween one of said slides and said swinging former from the line of thefeed thereof to the forming osition.

In testimony whereof I a x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ARTHUR J. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

B. G. WARNER, CHAS. L. WARNER.

